GUIDELINES FOR UPLINKING FROM INDIA

New Delhi
Dated: December 2, 2005.
PREAMBLE

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India notified the “Guidelines for uplinking from India” in July 2000. This was followed by “Guidelines for Uplinking of News and Current Affairs TV Channels from India” in March 2003, which were amended in August 2003, “Guidelines for use of SNG/DSNGs” in May 2003 and addendum dated 1.4.2005 to the uplinking guidelines. The Government has, on 20th October 2005 further amended these guidelines. It has now been decided that all these guidelines should be consolidated into one set of guidelines and notified. Accordingly, in supercession of all previous guidelines, the Government hereby notifies the following consolidated uplinking guidelines. These shall come into effect from today the 2nd December 2005 and would be applicable to existing channels as well.

GENERAL

The applicant seeking permission to set up an uplinking hub/ teleport or uplink a TV Channel or uplink facility by a News Agency should be a company registered in India under the Companies Act, 1956.


1. PERMISSION FOR SETTING UP OF UPLINKING HUB/ TELEPORTS.

1.1 Eligibility Criteria.

1.1.1In the applicant company, the foreign equity holding including NRI/OCB/PIO should not exceed 49%.

1.1.2The Company should have a minimum Net Worth as prescribed below:

Item
Required Net Worth
Teleport for single channel capacity
Rs. 1.00 Crore
Teleport for 6 channel capacity
Rs. 1.50 Crore
Teleport for 10 channel capacity
Rs. 2.50 Crore
Teleport for 15 channel capacity
Rs. 3.00 Crore
1.2 Period of Permission.
1.2.1 Permission shall be granted for a period of 10 years.